Great dreams last night
First, I had a dream that, in 12 years or so, my middle child (now 4) and I ran a triathlon together and it was a great experience for us both. (I was just talking to my husband about how she needs some one on one time with us both because the other two are attention-getters, but I’m not going to wait that long 
)
Then, I dreamed that, at some point in the future, I ran the Ironman Hawaii. I was, needless to say, in great shape. Anyone who knows me personally knows that I probably could do it given how I accomplish things when I become obsessed with them. And, oh, I’m obsessed.
That last one reminded me of a sign I used to have up in my office almost 20 years ago.
Fe = Iron
Male = Man
Female = Ironman
I worked for an engineering firm in the steel industry, so it was fitting. (Fe is the chemical symbol for iron, in case you’re wondering.) I was also, at the time, a fanatical swimmer, up at 4am every morning and in the pool at the Y. Our Y here doesn’t even open until 5:15am. (Not that I would go earlier these days!)
Speaking of swimming, did I tell you, my nickname in high school was the East German Swimmer? I had a lot of upper body strength. That’s probably where I feel weakest now.
Oh, and I have to add a note that I’m so so proud of my four-year-old (the one who’s going to do the triathlon with me in 12 years or so — haha). She passed the swimming portion of her first competency test (not related to swim lessons), for which she had to swim half the length of the pool. She did a good freestyle. She hasn’t been able to get treading water, though. She can do it, but not with her head fully out of the water. She’s sick of me pointing it out, so perhaps I’ll send her off with her brother to see how he does it. (My just-turned-three-year-old had a fit about me not letting her take the test, too, today. She will have to wait! I know she has the technical skills — she’s the best swimmer of the three — but she needs to learn to listen better (ha!) and she needs to learn to not always take all the attention away from her sister.)
Well, that was certainly a random walk through my dreams and memories and daily experience, wasn’t it! Glad you were along for the stroll
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Wow! How did you get your kids swimming so early?? Mine never even got into lessons until they were 4. Is there some special kind of toddler lessons I am missing? I live by a river and I would LOVE for my 3 yr old to know how to swim, but right now all she does is wade and blow bubbles.
Heya! I just started taking them as infants, and much to my husband’s horror, I just kinda plunk ‘em in and off we go! I started formal lessons around 18 months to two years, starting with parent-tot, then parent-preschool, then preschool. We do about 4 2-week sessions a year or so. I also use some of the Total Immersion swimming techniques with them (having them curl up in the water and “bouncing” them in the water like a basketball so they can feel their bodies float up, etc.) I don’t work on swimming techniques or anything official so much as feeling how their bodies work with the water. (And being competitive with their siblings helps.)
that sign is TOO FUNNY.
Im not sure Ill ever do an ironman OR a triathlon but Im planning on joining my now toddler for at least a KIDS TRI
somewhere in our future…